Solor

Solor is a volcanic island located off the eastern tip of Flores island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, in the Solor Archipelago. It is situated administratively in the East Flores Regency of East Nusa Tenggara province. The island supports a small population that has been whaling for hundreds of years. They speak the languages of Adonara and Lamaholot. There are at least five volcanoes on this island which measures only by . The island's area is , and it had a population of 34,029 at the 2020 Census.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 37,474.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2026, Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309)

Administrative districts The island is divided into three districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas (in km2) and their populations at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2026, Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309)

Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 Admin centre No.ofvillagesPostcodes 53.06.06 Solor Barat Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309040) (West Solor) 128.209,32111,18012,013Ritaebang15 (a) 86272 53.06.19 Solor Selatan Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Solor Selatan Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309041) (South Solor) 31.584,8416,8748,015Kalike786273 53.06.07 Solor Timur Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Solor Timur Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309050) (East Solor) 66.5612,87915,97517,446Menanga1786271 Totals on Solor Island 226.3427,04134,02937,474 39

Note: (a) including the town (kelurahan) of Ritaebang, with 1,516 inhabitants in mid 2023.

Villages West Solor District (kecamatan Solor Barat) is sub-divided into the town (kelurahan) of Ritaebang and fourteen rural villages (desa), as listed below with their areas and populations as at mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309040) South Solor District (kecamatan Solor Selatan) is sub-divided into seven rural villages (desa), as listed below with their areas and populations as at mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Solor Selatan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309041)East Solor District (kecamatan Solor Timur) is sub-divided into seventeen rural villages (desa), as listed below with their areas and populations as at mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Solor Timur Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309050)

Kode Wilayah Name of desa Area in km2 Pop'nmid 2023estimate 53.06.06.1001 Ritaebang 17.99 1,516 53.06.06.2002 Tanah Lein 24.74 988 53.06.06.2003 Lamaole 17.24 445 53.06.06.2004 Kalelu 2.88 744 53.06.06.2005 Nuhalolong 3.25 591 53.06.06.2007 Balaweling II 6.75 818 53.06.06.2008 Balaweling I 6.75 730 53.06.06.2009 Pamakayo 9.98 765 53.06.06.2012 Ongalereng 4.50 1,333 53.06.06.2013 Karawatung 4.50 818 53.06.06.2014 Lamawohong 3.24 451 53.06.06.2015 Daniwato 3.50 751 53.06.06.2017 Lewotawah Ole 12.00 436 53.06.06.2019 Titehena 2.87 4,869 53.06.06.2020 Lewonama 8.90 3,589 Totals West Solor 128.11 11,583 53.06.19.2001 Kalike 4.99 1,048 53.06.19.2002 Kalike Aimatan 4.00 1,132 53.06.19.2003 Sulengwaseng 4.50 915 53.06.19.2004 Kenere 3.01 694 53.06.19.2005 Lemanu 5.98 1,236 53.06.19.2006 Lewograran 5.69 959 53.06.17.2007 Bubu Atagamu 3.41 1,296 Totals South Solor 31.58 7,280

Kode Wilayah Name of desa Area in km2 Pop'nmid 2023estimate 53.06.07.2002 Watanhura 1.43 704 53.06.07.2003 Lebao 2.71 879 53.06.07.2004 Watohari 6.85 753 53.06.07.2005 Moton Wutun 0.39 1,382 53.06.07.2006 Watobuku 1.45 1,233 53.06.07.2007 Labelen 4.69 773 53.06.07.2008 Menanga 12.49 664 53.06.07.2009 Lohayong I 3.01 694 53.06.07.2010 Wulublolong 5.98 1,236 53.06.07.2011 Liwo 5.69 959 53.06.07.2012 Tanah Werang 0.85 1,743 53.06.07.2013 Lewohedo 4.50 915 53.06.07.2014 Lohayong II 1.88 731 53.06.07.2016 Watanhura II 8.91 390 53.06.07.2017 Lewogeka 7.35 1,981 53.06.07.2018 Lamawai 5.41 1,713 53.06.07.2019 Kawuta 1.10 708 Totals East Solor 66.56 17,066

History Pre-colonial period In the 14th century, Solor was said to have been conquered by the Majapahit empire, and the island is mentioned in the Negarakertagama as a possession of Majapahit. In the 16th century, parts of the island were under the influence of the Sultanate of Ternate. Since at least the 16th century, Solor played an important role in the trade of sandalwood by acting as a popular safe harbor for ships engaged in the trade. This made Solor a relevant part of the mercantile networks of the wider region, a situation that would be reversed with the arrival of the Portuguese.

Colonial period In 1520, the Portuguese established a trading post in the village of Lamakera on the eastern side of the island as a transit harbor between Maluku and Portuguese Malacca. In 1562, Dominican priests built a palm-trunk fortress which Javanese Muslims burned down the following year. The fort was rebuilt from more durable materials and the Dominicans commenced the Christianisation of the local population. By 1590 the Portuguese and Christian population numbered about 25,000. There were, however, repeated displays of resistance against both the Portuguese and their religion; in 1598–1599, for example, the Portuguese required an armada of 90 ships to put down a Solorese uprising.

At this time, there was a conflict between the traders and the priests, so the traders left Solor and settled in Larantuka at Flores island. When the Dutch came in 1613, the priests surrendered at the first attack and were brought to Larantuka, too.

The Dutch kept the fort, but did not make a profit close to the Portuguese port. After two commanders defected to the Portuguese, they gave up Solor. In 1636 the Portuguese were attacked by the Dutch and had to abandon the fort. In 1646 the Dutch occupied the fort again. The first of the new commanders was suspended, because he married an indigenous woman. The second commander challenged the Portuguese commander to a duel and was slain. In 1648 the Dutch left and the Dominican priests returned.

In 1851 the Portuguese governor sold Solor and other areas of the Lesser Sunda Islands, which had been under Portuguese sovereignty, to the Netherlands for florins without authorization from Lisbon. Lisbon did not recognise the sale and had Lopes arrested. He died on the way back to Europe. From 1854, the agreements were renegotiated. The sale was finally confirmed in the Lisbon Treaty and was ratified in 1859. Although the Dutch occupied the fort with a small force, the occupation was withdrawn again in 1869 for economic reasons but the official affiliation to the Netherlands remained.M. C. Ricklefs: A History of Modern Indonesia Since c.1300. 2. MacMillan, London 1991, ISBN 0-333-57689-6, p.25 It was under Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945, but along with the state of East Indonesia was later annexed into the United States of Indonesia with independence in 1949.

Towns and villages

Amakebo Apelame Aplame Balawelin Balawelin I – Riangtaliha and Lamalewo Balawelin II – Riangmuda and Rianglaka Buwu-Atagamu Daniwato Enatukan Karawatung Kelike Kelike – Lewolo and lamagohan Kenere Kukuwerang Lamakera, Indonesia Lamawolo Lamboleng Lebao Lemanu Lewograran Lewograran Lewohedo Liko Liwo Lohayong Menanga Ongalereng Pamakayo Sulengwaseng Wulublolong

Solor

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